After the weekend back-and-forth of warnings centered on the Biden administration's latest assertions that Beijing is mulling providing lethal aid to Russia in order to help the Kremlin execute its war efforts, Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky has weighed in on the deepening Beijing-Moscow partnership.
He warned that WW3 is on the horizon if China begins supplying weapons. "For us, it is important that China does not support the Russian Federation in this war," Zelenskiy told German daily newspaper Die Welt. "In fact, I would like it to be on our side. At the moment, however, I don't think it's possible."
"But I do see an opportunity for China to make a pragmatic assessment of what is happening here," he continued. "Because if China allies itself with Russia, there will be a world war, and I do think that China is aware of that."
Likely China will shrug off Zelensky's provocative comments, given Beijing already told Washington that it's in no position to make demands.
Previously, Biden administration officials had said the US is concerned by "disturbing" trends when it comes to China's support for Russia. Despite prior international media reports, mostly based on speculation, alleging that China was already supplying Russia's war effort in Ukraine, there's as yet no evidence of this.
The timing of the accusations is also important, given on Tuesday China's top diplomat Wang Yi made his first visit as Director of the CCP Central Foreign Affairs Office to Russia, having arrived in Moscow.
The day prior, he reiterated Beijing's position that negotiated settlement is needed to solve the Ukraine crisis:
"We would like a political solution to provide a peaceful and sustainable framework to Europe," Wang said ahead of a visit to Moscow during a stop in Hungary, which could result in billions of euros of new Chinese investment in the country.
On Saturday Wang had emphasized something similar in addressing the Munich Security Conference. Calling a room full of European officials "dear friends", he said "We do not add fuel to the fire, and we’re against reaping benefits from this crisis" - in a message aimed squarely at Washington.
What was supposed to be a bilateral meeting with Secretary Blinken never materialized earlier this month due to the Chinese 'spy' balloon shootdown saga...
"This relationship is far too consequential to allow what was a relatively minor security incident to derail [it]. The Wang Yi-Blinken meeting offered an opportunity to begin this process. Unfortunately, it was an opportunity squandered." - @Dalzell60 https://t.co/upoXVJx0cr
— Trita Parsi (@tparsi) February 20, 2023
"Some forces might not want to see peace talks to materialize. They don’t care about the life and death of Ukrainians, nor the harm on Europe. They might have strategic goals larger than Ukraine itself. This warfare must not continue," Wang added in the weekend comments.
As for Wang's trip to Moscow, the Kremlin has said a meeting with President Putin could be in the cards, though this is uncertain. "We do not rule out a meeting between Mr. Wang Yi and the [Russian] president, he will indeed be in Moscow," spokesman Dimitry Peskov said in a briefing.
After the weekend back-and-forth of warnings centered on the Biden administration’s latest assertions that Beijing is mulling providing lethal aid to Russia in order to help the Kremlin execute its war efforts, Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky has weighed in on the deepening Beijing-Moscow partnership.
He warned that WW3 is on the horizon if China begins supplying weapons. “For us, it is important that China does not support the Russian Federation in this war,” Zelenskiy told German daily newspaper Die Welt. “In fact, I would like it to be on our side. At the moment, however, I don’t think it’s possible.”
“But I do see an opportunity for China to make a pragmatic assessment of what is happening here,” he continued. “Because if China allies itself with Russia, there will be a world war, and I do think that China is aware of that.”
Likely China will shrug off Zelensky’s provocative comments, given Beijing already told Washington that it’s in no position to make demands.
Previously, Biden administration officials had said the US is concerned by “disturbing” trends when it comes to China’s support for Russia. Despite prior international media reports, mostly based on speculation, alleging that China was already supplying Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, there’s as yet no evidence of this.
The timing of the accusations is also important, given on Tuesday China’s top diplomat Wang Yi made his first visit as Director of the CCP Central Foreign Affairs Office to Russia, having arrived in Moscow.
The day prior, he reiterated Beijing’s position that negotiated settlement is needed to solve the Ukraine crisis:
“We would like a political solution to provide a peaceful and sustainable framework to Europe,” Wang said ahead of a visit to Moscow during a stop in Hungary, which could result in billions of euros of new Chinese investment in the country.
On Saturday Wang had emphasized something similar in addressing the Munich Security Conference. Calling a room full of European officials “dear friends”, he said “We do not add fuel to the fire, and we’re against reaping benefits from this crisis” – in a message aimed squarely at Washington.
What was supposed to be a bilateral meeting with Secretary Blinken never materialized earlier this month due to the Chinese ‘spy’ balloon shootdown saga…
“This relationship is far too consequential to allow what was a relatively minor security incident to derail [it]. The Wang Yi-Blinken meeting offered an opportunity to begin this process. Unfortunately, it was an opportunity squandered.” – @Dalzell60 https://t.co/upoXVJx0cr
— Trita Parsi (@tparsi) February 20, 2023
“Some forces might not want to see peace talks to materialize. They don’t care about the life and death of Ukrainians, nor the harm on Europe. They might have strategic goals larger than Ukraine itself. This warfare must not continue,” Wang added in the weekend comments.
As for Wang’s trip to Moscow, the Kremlin has said a meeting with President Putin could be in the cards, though this is uncertain. “We do not rule out a meeting between Mr. Wang Yi and the [Russian] president, he will indeed be in Moscow,” spokesman Dimitry Peskov said in a briefing.
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